Image processing system and method

Abstract

Initial low-quality images of a progressively-displayed high-definition image are masked with corresponding progressively-revealing mask filters or masking algorithms to realistically obscure such low quality and therefore to provide a realistically appearing progressive presentation of the high-definition image.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image, comprising transmitting to a recipient a plurality of image components of the progressively-encoded image, wherein successive image components of said plurality of image components are associated with images of successively increasing image-quality, each image component of said plurality of image components is masked to obscure detailed features of said image, while retaining a recognizable representation of an unmasked version of said image, and a degree to which each said image component is masked is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
     
     
       2. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. receiving a highest-definition image; 
 b. progressively encoding said highest-definition image so as to generate a plurality of unmasked image components of said progressively-encoded image; and 
 c. storing at least one set of stored image components selected from said plurality of unmasked image components and said plurality of image components. 
 
     
     
       3. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said highest-definition image is received from a proprietor of a website on which said progressively-encoded image is intended to be displayed. 
     
     
       4. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising generating said plurality of image components by masking each of said plurality of unmasked image components with a mask filter using a corresponding set of mask parameters of a corresponding plurality of sets of mask parameters. 
     
     
       5. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising storing said plurality of image components for later transmission to said recipient upon demand from said recipient. 
     
     
       6. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each image component of said plurality of image components is generated from a corresponding stored unmasked image component of said plurality of unmasked image components by said mask filter using said corresponding set of mask parameters responsive to a demand for said progressively-encoded image from said recipient. 
     
     
       7. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a. providing for a user to interactively adjust at least one set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters responsive to a display of a corresponding image component of said plurality of image components filtered by said mask filter responsive to said at least one set of mask parameters; and 
 b. storing said at least one set of mask parameters in association with said corresponding image component. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters comprises a value for each of at least one mask parameter selected from a measure of contrast, a measure of transparency, a measure of brightness, a measure of color, a measure of a range of tonal values, a measure of a shift of a range of tonal values, and a characterization of an associated image histogram; and said value for each said at least one mask parameter provides for obscuring artifacts in a corresponding said image component to an extent that is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
     
     
       9. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising enhancing edge detail of at least one relatively-lower-definition unmasked image component of said plurality of unmasked image components prior to said plurality of image components being masked to obscure said detailed features of said image. 
     
     
       10. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of progressively-relatively-higher-definition images culminating with the image that was progressively encoded. 
     
     
       11. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a plurality of unmasked image components of said progressively-encoded image and a corresponding plurality of sets of mask parameters from a separate image processing application. 
     
     
       12. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving said plurality of image components from a separate image processing application. 
     
     
       13. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image, comprising:
 a. receiving a plurality of image components of the progressively-encoded image, wherein successive image components of said plurality of image components are associated with images of successively increasing image-quality, each image component of said plurality of image components is masked to obscure detailed features of said image, while retaining a recognizable representation of an unmasked version of said image, and a degree to which each said image component is masked is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component; and 
 b. displaying each of said plurality of image components in succession on a display device. 
 
     
     
       14. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of progressively-relatively-higher-definition images culminating with the image that was progressively encoded. 
     
     
       15. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of image components is masked by masking each of a corresponding plurality of unmasked image components with a mask filter using a corresponding set of mask parameters of a corresponding plurality of sets of mask parameters. 
     
     
       16. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 15 , wherein each set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters comprises a value for each of at least one mask parameter selected from a measure of contrast, a measure of transparency, a measure of brightness, a measure of color, a measure of a range of tonal values, a measure of a shift of a range of tonal values, and a characterization of an associated image histogram; and said value for each said at least one mask parameter provides for obscuring artifacts in a corresponding said image component to an extent that is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
     
     
       17. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image, comprising:
 a. progressively encoding a highest-definition image so as to form a plurality of image components, wherein each image component of said plurality of image components is of successively increasing image-quality, but of lesser said image-quality than said highest-definition image; and 
 b. obscuring artifacts in each said image component that are not present in said highest-definition image with a mask filter that provides for retaining in said image component a recognizable representation of said highest-definition image, wherein the extent to which said artifacts are obscured by said mask filter is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
 
     
     
       18. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the operation of progressively encoding said highest-definition image comprises:
 a. causing said highest-definition image to be transmitted to an image processing application so as to generate said plurality of image components of said progressively-encoded image; and 
 b. causing said plurality of image components to be stored on an image server. 
 
     
     
       19. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a. interactively adjusting at least one set of mask parameters responsive to a display of a filtered version of a corresponding image component of said plurality of image components filtered by said mask filter responsive to said at least one set of mask parameters; and 
 b. causing said at least one set of mask parameters to be stored on said image server in correspondence with a corresponding said image component. 
 
     
     
       20. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the operation of interactively adjusting said at least one set of mask parameters occurs on said image server. 
     
     
       21. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a. masking each of said plurality of image components with said mask filter using a corresponding said at least one set of mask parameters so as to generate said plurality of image components, and 
 b. causing said plurality of image components to be stored on said image server. 
 
     
     
       22. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said at least one set of mask parameters comprises a value for each of at least one mask parameter selected from a measure of contrast, a measure of transparency, a measure of brightness, a measure of color, a measure of a range of tonal values, a measure of a shift of a range of tonal values, and a characterization of an associated image histogram; and said value for each said at least one mask parameter provides for obscuring said artifacts in a corresponding said image component to an extent that is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
     
     
       23. A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said image processing application is operative on said image server.